Keep your eyes open for this year’s hottest destinations

By Joy Crutchfield

What will be the hottest spots for travel in 2009? Where’s the best nightlife? Where can I take Mom and Dad, me and my husband, our kids and grandchildren? Where can I go to get away from the crowds? What’s the best value? Do we have to have a passport?

The hottest spots for travel in 2009, according to the experts, are Hawaii and Mexico.

Hawaii for two reasons: 1) no passport necessary, and 2) the economic downturn has been especially hard on the tourism industry in Hawaii, resulting in unheard of values offered by airlines and resorts in an attempt to make paradise irresistible to you. There are free nights, free meals, rental car discounts and more.

In 2009 the Riviera Maya, Mexico is the place to be. Travel Agents already have $119 round trip airfare into Cancun and many Riviera Maya resorts are offering free or discounted upgrades, free nights, kids stay free and more.

For example right now you can stay at the Barcelo Maya Beach for seven nights for only $1,000 per person. That price includes round trip air from DFW, transfers, taxes, tips, your food and drinks and all non-motorized watersports. With nightly shows, kids club, and three miles of beautiful beach on the Caribbean, what more could you ask for?

The best nightlife on a budget is in Cancun. The best club anywhere is Cabo Wabo (owned by Sammy Hagar) in Cabo San Lucas. There are many great clubs on the Riviera Maya as well, with the standard Senior Frogs, Carlos and Charlie’s and more.

For family vacations the Riviera Maya and Puerto Vallarta are tops. There are so many wonderful, family oriented resorts with fun-filled water parks, kid clubs and even movie nights. Adventures from snorkeling (in the ocean or in underground rivers), to zip lining, to donkey rides in the mountains will provide your family with fantastic vacation memories.

Get away from it all destinations abound in Hawaii and Mexico, as well as Jamaica. There are many resorts within a short flight of our area that offer seclusion and rejuvenation. They cater to our need to escape from our fast paced lives. Gourmet restaurants with healthy menus, spa treatments, exercise programs. They want us to live longer, healthier lives and return to spend our travel dollars again.

The best values are always found when you utilize charter flight schedules. Charter service from DFW into Cancun is year round. Charter service from DFW into Cozumel and Los Cabos begins in May, and ends mid-August. DFW to Puerto Vallarta service begins in June and also ends mid-August.

Right now pricing is the lowest I have seen in years for winter travel to Mexico. If you can depart from DFW before May you are going to experience great values. I just priced four nights in Cancun at the Barcelo Tucancun for under $600 per person. That’s air from DFW, all-inclusive package, transfers, taxes and tips. Another great value at a beautiful beachfront resort.

All air travelers entering or returning to the United States must present passports. The exceptions are U.S. citizens returning from Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands, both U.S. Territories. None of my clients had to wait more than two weeks for their passports last year, but please don’t wait until the last minute, apply for your passport before the rush. Download the application at www.travel.state.gov/passport_services.html.

This year is full of great travel values for you and your family. But don’t delay. Demand is already high and as you know, travel pricing is based on supply and demand.

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